William t



(No Model.)

W. WATERS. RAILROAD TRAIN TELEGRAPH.

Patented Feb. .6,

. INVENTOR: Zd 8660222? ATTORNEYS. V

8. PETERS Phoiylilhogripiwr. Wahlnflnn. D.C. V

I UNITED STATES.

ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM T. WVATERS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

RAILROAD-THAIN'TELEGRAPH. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,958, dated February 6", 1883.

Application filed July 8, 1882. (No model.) r

of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Train Telegraphs, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the traveling conductor and a portion of the track. Fig. 3 is a section al elevation of the same, taken through the line a: m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a sectional end elevation of a portion of the suspended conductors enlarged. Fig. 5 is a plan view, illustrating the electric circuit. Fig. 6 is a plan view, illustrating a modification of the electric circuit.

My invention is an improvement in the class oftraintelegraph lines in which a rolling conductor pr truck travels on suitable rails or wires supported on posts set upright alongside the track, and is so connected with a car that it travels with it, and enables electrical communication to be maintained between the car and either terminus of the line.

My improvement relates particularly to the construction of the rolling conductor or truck, as hereinafter described and claimed.

From cross-beams A, attached to poles B, erected at the opposite sides of the roadway, are suspended, by hangers (J or other suitable means, insulated conductors D, which, in the construction shown in thedrawin gs, are formed of metal plates, each having a central flange. and attached to the adjacentsides ofthe wooden beams. The construction of the conductors D is immaterial, so long as they are perfectly insulatedand form a continuous track for the traveling conductor E. The conductors D are arranged in pairs, and any desired number of pairs can be used. The alternate ends of the conductors D of each pair are connected with batteries and ground-lines, so that when a connection is made between the said conductors at any point in their lengths a complete electric circuit will be formed; or the opposite ends of the first and last conductors of a series of several pairs can be connected with batteries and ground-lines, each pair being connected at its opposite ends with the adjaupon which revolve the wheels I. The wheels I roll upon the upper sides of the flanges of the conductors D, upon the lower sides of which roll the wheels J One wheel J is connected with each plate F, and is pivoted to the forked upper end of a-standard, K, the lower end of which works in asocket, L, attached to or formed upon the lower part of the said plate F. The standard K is pressed upward by a spiral spring, M, placed in the socket L, so

that the wheels I J will be held against the conductors D with sutficient force to insure a perfect electric contact at all times.

With the lower end of one of the plates F is connected the end of a cable, N, the other end i of which is connected with a car, 0, of the train, or with a post, 1?, attached to the said car, so that the traveling conductor E will be drawn by thecar withwhich it is connected.

With each of the plates F is connected the end of a conducting-wire, Q, the other ends of which are connected with a key or telegraphinstrument within the car 0, so that a telegraph-message can be sent between the car and either end of the line, wherever the train may be, and whether the train may be in motion or at rest.

When practicable, each train upon the road can have its own pair of conductors D, and the train and conductors can form an independent circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 5; or the several pairs of conductors can be connected at their ends, as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that all the conductors and all the trains will be included in one circuit.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a railroadtrain-telegraph conductor, the truck for traveling on elevated supports,

having the metal plates F, the intervening in-- M, wires Q Q, and cable N, for connecting the sulating-plate, G, and the transporting metal conductor or truck with a car, as shown and 10 wheels H, having journals fixed in said plates described.

F, as shown and described.

, 2. In a railroad-train-telegraph conductor, \VILLIAM WATERSf the combination, with the metal conductors or Witnesses:

rails,0f the conducting-plates F, having wheels JAMES T. GRAHAM,

H, the wheels J, standard K, socket L, springs V O. SEDGWIOK. 

